Effect of CTMP1 gene on pulmonary fibrosis

Protein kinase B (PKB/AKT) is a very important member of the protein kinase family, playing significant roles in various crucial processes including insulin-signaling, cell survival, growth, and metabolism. The carboxyl-terminal modulator protein 1 (CTMP1) inhibits PKB, primarily by attenuating its phosphorylation. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an irreversible, chronic, progressive pulmonary disorder; the clinical treatment options are limited. Of the various experimental models, bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis is the most extensively studied. It closely resembles human lung fibrosis. We explored the impact of CTMP1 on bleomycin-induced fibrosis. In vitro experiments involved knockdown of CTMP1 in A549 cells (human alveolar epithelial cells), followed by bleomycin treatment. In vivo, lung fibrosis was induced in mice with ablated CTMP1 via intratracheal bleomycin administration at 2 mg/kg. CTMP1 deletion reduced pulmonary fibrosis and the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition by inhibiting PKB phosphorylation. These findings suggest that CTMP1 plays a pivotal role in the regulation of lung fibrosis, offering new insights into potential therapeutic approaches for IPF patients.